Buteo rufinus
The Long-legged Buzzard, *Buteo rufinus*, is a large, majestic raptor of the Old World, renowned for its imposing size and distinctive pale plumage. Measuring 50-65 cm in length with a wingspan of 115-160 cm and weighing between 800-2000g, it is one of the larger members of the *Buteo* genus. Key identification marks include a pale head, light underparts often contrasting with rufous belly and feathered 'trousers', prominent dark carpal patches on the underwing, and a generally unbarred or fa...
This raptor thrives in arid and semi-arid regions, including steppes, grasslands, open scrubland, rocky slopes, and mountainous areas. It can be found from sea level up to elevations exceeding 3,000 meters in some parts of its range.
Its diet primarily consists of small mammals, especially rodents like voles, gerbils, and ground squirrels, supplemented by lizards, snakes, and large insects. Foraging is mainly conducted by soaring, hovering, or perch hunting.
Long-legged Buzzards are diurnal hunters, typically spending their days soaring high on thermals, hovering with remarkable precision like a kestrel, or patiently hunting from a prominent perch. Their foraging strategy primarily involves searching for prey from the air or ground, often gliding low...
The Long-legged Buzzard boasts an extensive Palearctic range, breeding across southeastern Europe, including the Balkans, Ukraine, and southern Russia, through North Africa and the Middle East, and eastward across Central Asia to Mongolia and northern China. Its wintering grounds typically extend...
Least Concern
- The Long-legged Buzzard is one of the largest species in the *Buteo* genus, sometimes mistaken for a small eagle due to its size and powerful flight. - Despite its large size, it possesses the remarkable ability to hover motionless in the air for extended periods, scanning the ground below, sim...